Apparatus for wrapping a cover material around round bales

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for wrapping a plastic cover sheet about a round bale of hay is incorporated in a round bale forming machine. The mechanism includes an arbor for receipt of a roll of wrapping material. The arbor is positioned in the bale forming machine forward of the bale forming mechanism. The wrapping material is fed from the roll and wraps about the formed round bale as the baling machine moves forward. After the wrapping material encircles the bale, it is cut. The cut end is overlapped on the wrapped bale and glued thereto. Various wrapping material feed and cut off mechanisms are disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved bale forming machine and moreparticularly to a bale forming machine of the type for forming roundbales.

Baling of hay and similar cut field crops is an important way forstoring, transporting or preserving such materials. Various types ofbaling equipment are available and have been disclosed in variouspatents. Recently, mechanisms for forming and maintaining round baleshave become increasingly popular. Patents disclosing such mechanismsinclude the following:

    __________________________________________________________________________    Pat. No.                                                                            Inventor                                                                                Title            Issue Date                                   __________________________________________________________________________    3,205,898                                                                           Sprague                                                                              Method and Apparatus                                                                              9/14/65                                                   For Storing Plant Materials                                      3,534,537                                                                           Biechele                                                                             Machine for Forming 10/20/70                                           et al  and Hauling Large Round                                                       Bales of a Fibrous Material                                      3,641,754                                                                           Austee Grass and Leaf      2/15/72                                                   Packaging Machine                                                3,894,484                                                                           Gustey Bale Wrapping Mechanism                                                                           7/15/75                                            et al  For Large Cylindrical Bales                                      3,911,641                                                                           Miller Roll-Up Compressive 10/14/75                                           et al  Packaging Apparatus                                              3,913,473                                                                           Meiers Bale Wrapping Mechanism                                                                           10/21/75                                                  For Large Cylindrical Bales                                      4,018,391                                                                           Jacobsen                                                                             Controlled Hay Bale 4/19/77                                                   Metering and Feeding Device                                      4,019,309                                                                           Lundell                                                                              Round Bale Forming Machine                                                                        4/26/77                                      4,022,003                                                                           Strausse                                                                             Controlling the Size                                                                              5/10/77                                            et al  of a Roll Core Formed                                                         in a Coop Material                                                            Roll Forming Machine                                             4,022,120                                                                           McAllister                                                                           Electrically Powered                                                                              5/10/77                                                   Twine Wrapper For                                                             For Round Bales                                                  4,024,804                                                                           Hanson Rotary Baling Machine                                                                             5/24/77                                                   With Twine Feeding Mechanism                                                  and Articulated Drive Assembly                                   __________________________________________________________________________

Generally, the referenced patents disclose round bale forming machineswhich include a bale forming mechanism that is transported through afield to simultaneously gather the hay or similar material and roll itinto a generally cylindrical bale. The formed bale is held together mostoften by means of cord which extends about the bale and is tied off atits opposite ends.

Recently, it has been suggested that the round bale be retained within aplastic bag. This suggestion was set forth in the January-February, 1977issue of "Farm Show" magazine. A more recent issue of "Farm Show"magazine in March, 1978 disclosed the concept of wrapping a protectivestrip of plastic material about the cylindrical surface of a round bale.

Various advantages flow from applying a plastic or wrapping materialover the round bale. For example, the round bale may be more easilystored in fields without loss or deterioration in the quality of theouter layers of the material forming the bale. Additionally, thewrapping material tends to protect the round bale from scavengers anddegradation from various other sources.

Heretofore, however, there has been no known mechanism or apparatus forsimultaneously forming a round bale and enclosing that bale with awrapping material. Benefits from such an apparatus or mechanism wouldinclude elimination of the extra step of wrapping the formed round bale.Additionally, it may be possible to use the wrapping material in lieu ofthe cord normally utilized to hold the round bale together. In view ofthese needs, the present invention was conceived.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the invention is the improvement in a round bale formingmachine having a bale forming mechanism of apparatus for applying acover sheet over the round bale during the bale forming operation. Theimproved apparatus includes a roll storage arbor for the rolled sheet ofwrapping material. The arbor is mounted on the bale forming machineforward of the bale forming mechanism. The wrapping material isuniformly dispensed from the arbor subsequent to formation of the roundbale as the bale forming machine continues to move through the field.Wrapping material is then formed about the round bale. An appropriatelength of the wrapping material is cut and overlapping ends of thewrapping material are attached.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedround bale forming machine which incorporates means for wrapping aformed round bale in a wrapping material to protect the bale and tosimultaneously retain the integrity of the bale.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a materialwrapping apparatus for a round baler machine which may be incorporatedwith existing round baler machines easily and inexpensively.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide amechanism for incorporation in existing round bale forming machineswhich will feed a desired amount of wrapping material about the formedround bale and then secure that wrapping material about the round bale.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide amechanism for incorporation with a round bale forming machine to wrapthe formed round bale as the bale forming machine is continuously drawnthrough a field. The wrapping operation does not interrupt the movementof the bale forming machine.

One further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmechanism for incorporation in a round bale forming machine to wrap thebale with wrapping material which is of simple construction and whichmay be economically incorporated in a round bale forming machine.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbe set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows reference will be made to thedrawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the round balewrapping device as incorporated with a typical round bale formingmachine;

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view illustrating the operation of the deviceshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view showing the further operation of thedevice shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a typical round bale which has beenwrapped and formed with the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the operation of the apparatusshown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is designed generally for incorporation withapparatus for forming a bale of hay or other cut material as a roundbale. Previously cited references teach various apparatus or balers forthe formation of such round bales. The mechanism of the presentinvention is incorporated with such apparatus by mounting the mechanismforward of the bale forming mechanism of such apparatus. It is alsopossible to separately mount the mechanism of the present invention onits own trailer and then position that trailer forward of the baleforming apparatus. However, the preferred embodiment of the inventionincorporates the wrapping mechanism integrally with the bale formingapparatus.

Referring, therefore, to FIG. 1, the frame structure of a round baler isillustrated as including four rearwardly extending frame members 10, 11,12 and 13, which define the sides of the hay baler. The frame members10-13 are rigidly interconnected and maintained in spaced relationshipby means of cross frame members such as frame member 14. A series offrame bracket members 10a, 11a, 12a and 13a extend from frame members10-13 respectively and connect with a tow bar or tongue 16.

The mechanism of the present invention is generally comprised of thebale cover applicator 18 which is suspended from round bale framemembers 11 and 12 forward of section 17 of the round baler in which theround bale is formed. In FIG. 1 a round bale 20 is illustrated as havingbeen formed by the round baler. Wrapping material 22 dispensed by thecover applicator 18 is illustrated as being partially applied to theroll or round bale 20.

The applicator 18 is comprised of a frame which includes cross members24 through 27. The cross members 24 through 27 connect pentagonal sideframe members 28 and 29. Opposed mounting plates 30 and 32 project fromthe frame members 28 and 29 respectively for attachment of the coverapplicator 18 to the baler frame members 11 and 12 respectively.

Each pentagonal side frame member 28 and 29 includes an upright verticalforward post 34, 36 respectively. A U-shaped channel 38 is welded on theinside of each post 34 and 36. The channels 38 are in opposed relationso that a material support rod 40 may extend between the channels 38 ofposts 34 and 36 and support a roll of cover material 42.

Typically the cover material roll 42 may be plastic, waterproof paper,cloth or foil. The width of the roll 42 is not a limiting feature of theinvention. Generally the width of the roll 42 is slightly less than thewidth of the formed round bale 20. The roll 42 may be sectioned so thatthe round bale 20 will be provided with strips of material forming theroll 42 wrapped around the bale 20.

A lead end 44 of roll 42 is fed through opposed parallel rollers 46 and48 extending between the side frame members 28 and 29. Drive roller 48is mounted on a shaft 50 projecting from opposite ends of roller 48through a mounting bracket 52 attached to frame member 28 and bracket 53attached to frame member 29.

Roller 48 is driven by a drive chain 54 which drives sprocket 56attached to shaft 50. The drive chain 54 is driven in response to adriven shaft 58 journalled in bearings on posts 34, 36 which, in turn,may be driven by an electric motor (not shown), a power take off fromthe vehicle pulling the round baler or by some other drive means forrotating the drive shaft 56.

Roller 46 is a biased idler roller which includes a shaft 60 extendingin opposite directions from the ends of roller 46 through a slot 62 inbracket 52. A spring member 63 is positioned in slot 62 to engage theshaft 60 and bias the shaft 60 toward the shaft 50 thereby biasing idlerroller 46 toward drive roller 48.

The lead end 44 of roll 42 is inserted between rollers 46 and 48 and isgripped and driven in response to rotation of the drive roller 48. Inthis manner removal of cover material from roll 42 is accuratelycontrolled. Preferably the cover material 42 is fed about the bale 20 atthe same speed that the roll 20 is being formed. This is the speed ofmovement of the baler in a forward direction. The lead end 44 isinitially fed into the formed bale 20 so that the lead end 44 will betightly gripped by the cut material. In this manner the lead end 44 isaffixed to the bale 20 and will cover the bale 20 as the lead end 44 ispulled around the bale 20 as the bale 20 is being formed.

Typically, therefore, referring to FIG. 1 the bale 20 will be formed bya rolling action in the clockwise direction. Referring to FIG. 2, as thelead end 44 is fed into the bale 20, the movement of the bale 20 in aclockwise sense causes the lead end 44 to be pulled about the bale. Thedrive roll 48 and idler roller 46 control the manner and rate at whichthe wrapping material 22 is fed into the bale 20 as it is formed. Notethat a portion of the cut material is placed on both sides of the covermaterial.

When an appropriate amount of cover material 22 has been fed to coverthe round bale 20, a cutting blade 64 is actuated. Blade 64 cuts thesheet 22 of material intermediate the round bale 20 and the materialroll 42. Referring to FIG. 1, the cutoff mechanism is comprised of ashaped blade 64 which extends transverse to the direction which thecover material 22 moves. The blade 64 extends between the side framemembers 28 and 29 and is connected at its opposite ends to upright posts66 and 68 which form part of side frame members 28 and 29 respectively.In the embodiment shown each end of the blade 64 includes a bearingmember 70 which is fitted on a vertical rod 72 attached to post 66. Therod 72 extends between support brackets 74 and 76. Biasing springs 78and 80 are positioned on rod 72 between brackets 74, 76 and bearing 70respectively. In this manner, the blade 64 is maintained in a springsupported neutral rest position absent any application of mechanicalforce to the blade 64.

To lower the blade into cutting relation with the wrapping material 22,a blade drive arm 82 attached to a lever arm 84 is driven in a downwarddirection by pivoting the lever arm 84 in a clockwise sense as viewed inFIG. 1. This causes the blade 64 to engage the wrapping material 22 andcut the end of the material 22 so that the cut end may be applied overthe outside of the round bale. Note that the blade 64 has a pointedcenter or leading edge 86. This is to promote a shearing cutting actionupon the wrapping material 22. The lever arm 84 in the embodiment ofFIG. 1 is responsive to movement of a drive rod 88 mounted on crossmember 26. Drive rod 88 is, in turn, responsive to lever arm 90 which isactuated by means of a pull rope 92. Alternatively, a hydraulic cylinder(not shown) may be mounted to actuate lever arm 90 or equivalentstructure.

The cut end of the wrapped material is preferably affixed to outercovering forming the wrapping material 22 about the bale 20. Thus, thereshould be an overlap of the wrapping material 22. Preferably, thisoverlap is sealed by application of glue or alternatively, the coveringmaterial may be preglued. It is possible, however, to eliminateattachment of glue or other fastening means for the overlapped portionof the cover material 22 since the round bale 20 may be stored in thefield and is unlikely to be moved. The weight of the bale 20 itself willinsure that the cover material 22 is retained tightly wrapped about theround bale 20.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate schematically the sequence of operations forapplying the wrapping material 22 about a formed round bale 20. As shownin FIG. 2 the free end 44 of the cover material is initially interleavedwith the cut material forming the bale 20. Subsequently, the feeding ofcut material into the bale is terminated. Simultaneously, the covermaterial 22 is continuously wrapped about the round bale 20 until thereis an overlap as shown in FIG. 3. The wrapping material 22 is then cutand preferably sealed or glued on the overlapped region. FIG. 4illustrates the final configuration of a round bale 20 formed andwrapped in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate a mechanism for terminating the feeding of cutmaterial into the bale forming mechanism so that the wrapping material22 may be completely applied about the outside of the round bale 20. Themechanism for terminating feed of cut material comprises a rake 94 whichis mounted on the tow bar frame bracket members 10a and 13a. The rake 94is attached by means of a support arm 96 to the frame members 10a and16a. A hydraulic cylinder 98 extends between the bracket members 11a,12a and the bracket support arm 96. Operation of the cylinder 98 raisesand lowers the rake 94.

Subsequent to insertion of the free end 44 of the wrapping material 22into the bale 20, the rake 94 is lowered by operation of cylinder 98 toterminate gathering of cut material into the bale 20 being formed. Inthis manner the wrapping material 22 forms entirely about the outside ofthe round bale 20 as long as the rake 94 is retained in the loweredposition. Subsequent to formation of the wrapped bale 20, the cylinder98 is again actuated to raise the rake 94. Formation of an additionalround bale is then commenced by continued forward movement of the balerapparatus in the field.

FIG. 5 also illustrates an alternative structure for the feed mechanismassociated with the wrapping material. In FIG. 5 the feed mechanism iscomprised of a drive roller 148 and idler roller 146 through which theend of the wrapping material 22 is fed. The rollers 146 and 148 are,however, mounted on a pivotal bracket assembly 150. The bracket assembly150 pivots about a pivot connection 152. A drive chain 154 connectsbetween the pivot point 152 and the drive roll 148. This connection ispossible since the radial distance between those points is the sameregardless of the position in which the bracket member 150 is pivoted. Aglue applicator 160 projects downwardly from the bracket member 150 anddispenses glue onto a leading edge 144 from roll 142. A knife blade 164is affixed rigidly to the baler.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 is operated between the position illustrated inbold lines in FIG. 5 and the phantom position; that is, the bracket 150is pivoted about the pivot connection 152 to raise the rollers 146 and148. This causes the leading edge 144 to engage against the blade 164thereby cutting the wrapping material 22. The glue from glue applicator160 insures that the overlapped portions of the wrapping material 22become attached to each other.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of the arrangement set forth in FIG. 5. Note thatthe bracket 150 is operated in response to a lever arm 164 which may bepivoted by operation of a pull rope or a hydraulic cylinder or the like.

FIG. 7 illustates schematically still another embodiment of theinvention. In FIG. 7 the shaft 180 which receives the roll 182 of covermaterial is a powered shaft. Thus the shaft or arbor 180 is directlydriven in order to unwrap the cover material and feed that material tothe bale. A movable knife mechanism 184, for example as shown in FIG. 1,is positioned intermediate the covered bale and the roll 182. Note thatwhen the free end 186 of the cover material is initially fed into thebale, it may be deposited directly on the ground with the cut material,such as hay, to thereby be incorporated in the bale as schematicallyillustrated in FIG. 2. Upon incorporation within the bale, the wrappingmaterial is then subjected to greater tension and is removed from theroll 182 to cover the bale as previously described.

Various embodiments of the invention have been set forth in detail. Theinvention, however, is not limited to the specific embodimentsillustrated. Alternatives are possible for incorporation with varioustypes of round balers. Thus, the invention is to be limited only by thefollowing claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a round baler of the type having a baleforming mechanism for transport over a field of cut material to gatherand form the material into a round bale, the improvement of apparatusfor applying a cover sheet over the round bale during the bale formingoperation, said improvement comprising in combination:(a) a wrappingmaterial roll storage member affixed to the baler forward of the baleforming mechanism, said roll storage member being oriented to positionan end of a sheet of wrapping material on the roll member in the path ofthe cut material for wrapping the bale as the bale is being formed; (b)drive means for the storage member for removing the sheet of wrappingmaterial from the roll member and directing the end of said sheet alongthe ground for gathering by the bale forming mechanism about the outsidesurface of the formed bale; (c) means forward of the bale formingmechanism for terminating flow of cut material to the bale formingmechanism; (d) means for cutting the wrapping material intermediate thebale forming mechanism and the roll storage member; and (e) means foraffixing a cut end of sheet material to a bale formed by the baleforming mechanism.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein said baledefines an axis of rotation during formation and wherein said rollstorage member comprises a roll mounting assembly for supporting acylindrical roll of wrapping material for rotation about a roll axisparallel to the axis of rotation of the round bale during formation ofthe round bale.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the drive meanscomprise means for directly driving the roll storage member to therebyunroll wrapping material from the roll storage member.
 4. Theimprovement of claim 1 wherein said drive means comprise opposed,parallel drive rolls on opposite sides of the wrapping material forgripping and removing the wrapping material from the roll storagemember.
 5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein one of said drive rolls isspring biased toward the other drive roll.
 6. The improvement of claim 4wherein said drive rolls are mounted on a bracket for movement about theroll storage member, whereby the wrapping materials may be positionedwith respect to the formed bale by bracket movement.
 7. The improvementof claim 1 wherein said means for terminating the flow of cut materialcomprise a rake member attached to the baler and means for positioningthe rake member in the path of travel of the bale forming mechanism. 8.The improvement of claim 1 wherein the means for cutting comprises ablade member on the baler intermediate the roll storage member and thebale forming mechanism, and blade actuation means for imparting theblade against the wrapping material to cut the wrapping material.
 9. Theimprovement of claim 1 wherein said means for affixing include adhesivedischarge means for applying adhesive to the wrapping material wherebythe wrapping material may be made to be attached about the formed bale.